My Portable Ming Dynasty

Chapter 222 "Secondary Proposal on the Liaodong Governor and Request for the Establishment of the Tongliao Bastion"

After the two finished talking, Su Ze looked at Li Chengliang, who was pretending to be well-behaved.

Tan Lun followed Su Ze's gaze to Li Chengliang and said in a tone of disappointment:

"I originally wanted to bring this fellow to the capital to broaden his horizons, but this scoundrel is really hopeless."

Su Ze was quite interested in Li Chengliang, and he asked Li Chengliang:
"General Li, you are stationed in Liaoyang. What is your view on the Jurchens?"

When Li Chengliang saw Su Ze asking him a question, he immediately became excited and shouted:

"The Jurchens? Aren't they just the dogs of our Great Ming?"

Upon hearing Li Chengliang's words, Tan Lun couldn't help but sigh and rub his forehead.

Then Li Chengliang said:
"If a dog is disobedient, it needs to be trained. If it is trained well, it can help its owner hunt."

Su Ze looked at Li Chengliang, whose words, though crude, were not unreasonable.

Li Chengliang has been the subject of much controversy in later generations. The biggest controversy is his leniency towards the Jurchens, which ultimately led to them becoming a threat.

However, if viewed within the context of this period, the frontier policy implemented by Li Chengliang was also the Ming Dynasty's frontier national policy of using barbarians to control barbarians, which had lasted for a century.

During his lifetime, Li Chengliang indeed quelled rebellions in Liaodong on several occasions, making him a formidable general of his time.

As for the extravagance and arrogance of these military generals, this was also caused by the Ming court's indulgence.

At least during the Longqing era, Li Chengliang would never dare to be corrupt, much less act arrogantly in front of Tan Lun.

Su Ze asked again:
"The Jurchen rebellions are becoming more and more frequent. What does General Li think is the reason?"

When Li Chengliang heard Su Ze ask him a question, he became even more enthusiastic and said:
"If a dog bites its owner, it means it hasn't been trained enough!"

"The court bestowed titles and issued imperial edicts upon them to conduct business, but these wolf cubs turned around and plundered the Han people! Take that scoundrel Wang Gao of Jianzhou, for example. He surrendered as soon as we defeated him, but after we fattened him up, he turned around and bit us. He surrendered and rebelled, rebelled and surrendered again. He clearly treated the court like a sucker."

“Every time they rebel, the government troops chase them into the mountains and then retreat, afraid of wasting money and food. But wild dogs only remember being beaten and not being fed! Look at us, we slaughtered dozens of heads in Liaoyang, and they retreated to their dens for half a year without daring to show their faces. If it were up to me, I should break their spines so that they would tremble at the sight of the Ming banners!”

Tan Lun couldn't stand it any longer and scolded Li Chengliang:

"shut up!"

Li Chengliang was like a mouse seeing a cat, trembling with fear, and immediately dared not say another word.

Su Ze stopped Tan Lun from reprimanding Li Chengliang and continued to ask:

"General Li, if I let you lead troops, with ample provisions and pay, could you kill Wang Gao?"

Li Chengliang immediately said:
"Of course! As long as the imperial court provides enough troops and provisions, even if I, Li Chengliang, freeze to death in the Northeast, I will still cut off Wang Gao's head!"

"Li is willing to sign a pledge!"

Tan Lun was too lazy to say anything more. Su Ze and Xu Wei both laughed along. Li Chengliang scratched his head, not understanding the thoughts of the three scholars, and could only laugh along as well.
-
The following day, Tan Lun submitted a memorial to the Ministry of Justice, requesting the repair of the Great Wall and the training of troops in Ji and Liao.

When the memorial was sent to the Grand Secretariat, Zhang Juzheng and Zhao Zhenji voted to approve it, while Gao Gong remained noncommittal. When the memorial was sent to the palace, the Longqing Emperor indeed hesitated.

With the war in Xuanda over, Emperor Longqing was thinking of saving the border defense funds, but Tan Lun's memorial called for building defenses in Jiliao and training troops, which would cost a lot of money.

The Longqing Emperor sent the memorial to the outer court for discussion among his officials.

As expected, Tan Lun's memorial was met with fierce criticism from officials of the outer court.

The Censorate was the most vocal in its criticism, arguing that Tan Lun's reconstruction of the Jiliao defense line was a waste of national funds and that he had only submitted the memorial for his own political achievements.

Several imperial censors who had been to Liaodong also strongly argued that the Jurchen tribes all paid tribute to the Ming Dynasty, and that opening up trade would appease them, following the example of Anda's investiture. They believed that such a large expense was unnecessary for the Jiliao region.

Amidst the ongoing debates in the outer court, Su Ze also submitted a memorial.

"Secondly Proposes the Establishment of the Liaodong Governor-General and the Tongliao Bastion"

At the beginning of his memorial, Su Ze clearly expressed his support for Tan Lun, the Governor-General of Jiliao.

"Your Majesty, I have observed that the various barbarian tribes in Liaodong are rampant, and the Jurchens and Mongols are increasingly communicating, leading to a growing border crisis. Governor Tan Lun of Liaodong has submitted a memorial entitled 'Request to Repair the Great Wall and Train the Jiliao Troops,' in which he has pointed out the current problems. I respectfully agree to this and request that the Tongliao Fort be established to cut off the communication between the barbarians."

In his memorial to the throne, Su Ze approved Tan Lun's proposal to rebuild the Great Wall in the Ji-Liao region and reorganize the Ji-Liao troops.

"Governor Tan's plan not only saves money and stops the fighting, but also prevents the source of chaos. If we are misled by empty talk and delay making a decision, the Liaodong troubles may spread like wildfire."

Then, based on Tan Lun's memorial, Su Ze proposed to establish a bastion in the Tongliao area.

"The Jurchens in Liaodong often colluded with the Mongols in Liaoxi, engaging in trade and plunder, which caused a particularly deep problem. Tongliao is a vital passage between east and west. When the Jurchens went west, they formed alliances with the southern desert, and when the Mongols moved east, they allied with Jianzhou. To cut off their communication, it is necessary to build more fortresses."

Su Ze pointed out the crucial location of Tongliao.

“Tongliao can deter the Haixi and Jianzhou Jurchens to the east, and control the Tuman and Duoyan Mongols to the west. Once the fort is built, the Jurchens will not be able to ally with the west, and the Mongols will not be able to invade the east.”

In addition to the bastion, a horse market will also be established in Tongliao.

The Mongol tribes could trade horses with the Ming Dynasty here, thus cutting off the flow of horses into Liaodong.

Su Ze concluded by writing:
"I have heard that barbarians fear power but do not cherish virtue. The Jurchens' rebellion was not a natural disaster, but a man-made one. The suppression and appeasement were mishandled, and the punishment was too lenient while the food was plentiful."

"The Great Wall is like an iron wall, blocking the enemy cavalry in the north; the three battalions are like tiger warriors, suppressing the arrogant soldiers within; the fortresses serve as key points, severing the alliance between the barbarians and the enemy."

Su Ze submitted the memorial and checked the simulation results of the "Portable Ming Dynasty Court".

——[Simulation Start]——

The memorial entitled "Secondarily Proposing the Governor-General of Liaodong and Requesting the Establishment of the Tongliao Bastion" was sent to the Cabinet on the same day, and Gao Gong, Zhang Juzheng, and Zhao Zhenji all voted to approve it.

There was a huge outcry of opposition in the court, and the emperor was also worried about restarting the war in Liaodong, so he kept your memorial.

——[Simulation End]——

[Remaining Prestige Points: 400]

[Should I spend 300 reputation points to ensure the memorial is fully executed?]

Su Ze decisively chose "yes".

November 26th.

Emperor Longqing was looking forward to the New Year and was making preparations to hold the Lantern Festival again this year.

Unexpectedly, a storm broke out before the new year. Tan Lun's memorial caused constant controversy in the court, and the cabinet ministers sided with Tan Lun, which strained the relationship between the cabinet and the ministers of the outer court.

At this point, it was inconvenient for him to bring up the Lantern Festival again.

Emperor Longqing had originally planned to reject Tan Lun's memorial, order him to leave the capital immediately to quell the current turmoil, and then discuss with the cabinet ministers that it would be best if, like last year, the Grand Secretary Li Chunfang took the initiative to propose organizing the lantern festival, which would make things much easier.

Unexpectedly, Su Ze sent another memorial, making the atmosphere in the court even more tense.

Emperor Longqing had already made all the arrangements. Zhang Cheng, the eunuch in charge of the Dengzhou-Laizhou Maritime Trade Office, had already arranged for the lantern makers from Daming Prefecture to come to the capital and settle in the workshops of the East Market.

But once the court infighting starts, the cabinet will definitely not mention the lantern festival again.

Although the emperor wouldn't hold a grudge against Tan Lun for this, he still wanted to send him back to Liaodong as soon as possible.

Just as the Longqing Emperor was determined to reject the memorials of Tan Lun and Su Ze and quell the court debate, Feng Bao, the head of the Eastern Depot and a scribe in the Directorate of Ceremonial, strode into the Imperial Study.

"Your Majesty! Something has happened at the factories in the East Market!"

Dongshi Factory!

When the Longqing Emperor stood up, the lantern makers from Daming Prefecture were assigned to the East Market workshop. If those censors discovered that the inner court had secretly arranged for the lantern makers to come to the capital, they would definitely cause a huge uproar, and the Lantern Festival would definitely not be able to be held!

"What happened!"

Feng Bao said quickly:

"It was the adopted son of Li Chengliang, the general of Liaoyang, who was drinking and causing trouble in the factories of the East Market, which attracted the attention of the imperial censor on patrol!"

An adopted son of the Jurchens!?
The Longqing Emperor immediately said:

"Immediately dispatch the Imperial Guards there!"
-
Su Ze never expected that the system would approve his memorial in such a way.

[The Jurchen servants of Li Chengliang, the general of Liaoyang, caused trouble at the East Market. The imperial censor on patrol arrested these Jurchens, and during the search, they discovered the lamp-making craftsmen who had been secretly summoned to the capital by the emperor.]

[Li Chengliang was dismissed from his post as general and given twenty strokes of the cane for failing to manage his subordinates, and was sent back to Liaodong.]

[Because the Lantern Festival could not be held, and the imperial censor investigating the city uncovered various crimes committed by the Jurchens, the emperor was furious and approved your memorial.]

[Ming Dynasty +5]

Why was only five points added to the national fortune?
Could it be that because of the technological advancements of the Ming Dynasty, the Jurchens were no longer a threat to the destruction of the country?
That's true. The Ming Dynasty has now lasted for 72 years, so the Jurchens are certainly not the main reason for its demise.

However, it stabilized the situation in Liaodong and eliminated unstable factors, so adding five is not a lot.

It was Li Chengliang who suffered.

Su Ze couldn't suppress a smile. After all, Li Chengliang lived to be ninety years old before dying peacefully in his sleep. Twenty strokes of the cane shouldn't be a problem, right?

Furthermore, he brought a group of adopted Jurchen sons to the capital and failed to manage them properly, so he deserved to be punished.

However, considering that the emperor was unable to hold the Lantern Festival he had been longing for because of this incident, and only punished Li Chengliang with twenty strokes of the cane, Emperor Longqing was indeed magnanimous.

For generals in the Ming Dynasty, demotion and dismissal were normal occurrences. As long as they had a chance to redeem themselves through meritorious service, they could be reinstated.

Qi Jiguang and Yu Dayou were like that; they were demoted and dismissed several times during the war against Japanese pirates, but eventually they were both promoted.

Emperor Longqing only punished Li Chengliang with a beating and sent him back to Liaoyang, presumably to allow him to atone for his crimes through meritorious service there.

Such a magnanimous emperor is indeed very rare. Just thinking about how Emperor Longqing acted like a thief when he wanted to hold a lantern festival, Su Ze looked at his remaining prestige points and pulled out a blank notebook.

A petition requesting the holding of the Lantern Festival for universal celebration.

——[Simulation Start]——

The memorial requesting the holding of the Lantern Festival for universal celebration was sent to the cabinet that day, and the cabinet ministers all voted to approve it.

The emperor immediately approved your memorial, but the censors voiced their opposition, and the Longqing Emperor was forced to withdraw his order.

——[Simulation End]——

[Remaining Prestige Points: 145]

[Should I spend 100 reputation points to ensure the memorial is fully executed?]

After watching the simulation, Su Ze was speechless.

Emperor, what are you so cowardly about!

Even the cabinet doesn't support you anymore!

To the point that the imperial censors could force him to retract his decree, Su Ze could only sigh that the Longqing Emperor was truly afraid of trouble!

The Grand Secretary has already supported you, so why did Your Majesty surrender first?

Su Ze was speechless. Oh well, he'd just consider those 100 prestige points as flattery for the emperor.

[Prestige points have been deducted. Remaining Prestige Points: 45. Please complete the petition in real life.]
-
The Longqing Emperor forcibly approved Su Ze's memorial, infuriating the officials in the outer court.

This time, their impeachment targets gradually shifted from Tan Lun and Su Ze to the three cabinet ministers.

Su Ze then wrote another memorial, "Please Hold the Lantern Festival Again for Universal Celebration," which reignited the anger of the censors. They regarded this memorial as a provocation by Su Ze, and the situation escalated to the point where Su Ze was about to petition the emperor.

Just then, Li Chunfang, who was staying at home in retirement, made her move.

First, the cabinet introduced the Performance Evaluation Law, which served as a warning to the Six Censors who had been making a lot of noise.

Immediately afterwards, the cabinet, together with the Ministry of Personnel, quickly drafted a new list of Qing military censors to patrol the border, and dispatched censors from the Censorate to the frontier.

The great victory at Dongshengwei and Tan Lun's proposal to rebuild the border wall both require the supervision of the censors. You're against it, aren't you? Then go and supervise the construction properly!
Li Chunfang also required these censors to keep a record of their investigations, and that they must investigate and rectify any problems they encountered in their localities before returning to the capital.

Su Ze could only say that Li Chunfang's move was indeed impressive.

There were too many problems on the frontier of the Ming Dynasty. Receiving salaries without working, encroaching on military farms, and claiming credit for others were all common practices. Frontier projects were also hotbeds of corruption. The Censorate dispatched Qing army censors to patrol the borders to supervise these problems.

Aren't you opposing us in the court? Then go to the provinces and do your jobs properly and supervise the work!

Li Chunfang's series of moves directly dismantled the leadership of the Six Ministries and the Censorate. Faced with the Grand Secretary's thunderous methods, the remaining officials dared not make any further moves.

Then Li Chunfang retrieved historical documents from the Hanlin Academy's archives.

The Lantern Festival of the Ming Dynasty began during the reign of Emperor Yongle (Zhu Di). In the seventh year of Yongle's reign, Emperor Yongle ordered the setting up of a lantern mountain outside the Meridian Gate, held a banquet for officials, and granted the common people permission to watch the lanterns for ten days.

Since the lantern festival was an ancestral tradition, many emperors after Emperor Chengzu also organized it, but the previous emperor "pitied" the suffering of the people and stopped it.

Therefore, Li Chunfang believed that, following the old precedent of last year, the outer court should handle the arrangements for the lantern festival, but the money for the lantern festival should come from the imperial treasury.

The Longqing Emperor readily accepted the offer and immediately allocated silver dollars from the imperial treasury to organize the Lantern Festival.

At the same time, Emperor Longqing also gave bonuses to officials in the capital. Officials below the fifth rank in the capital were given five silver dollars, and officials of the fifth rank and above were given ten silver dollars. Eunuchs, palace maids and craftsmen were also rewarded with brass coins.

With this series of combined measures, November finally passed peacefully.

Tan Lun was both happy and worried. He was happy that his memorial was approved and that he was also granted an additional Tongliao bastion.

What worries him is that on the return journey, he is accompanied by several Qing army border patrol censors. These censors are glaring at Tan Lun with gritted teeth, and he fears that the days ahead will not be easy.

Of course, Li Chengliang was in an even worse situation. He was flogged and stripped of his military officer status, and he couldn't even use the post stations on his way back.

His troublesome Jurchen "adopted sons" were not treated so kindly by the Eastern Depot and the police, and it's estimated they'll never be able to return to Liaoyang in their lifetime.

Li Chengliang could only rely on his remaining adopted sons to push the cart back to Liaoyang, stopping at inns along the way.

Tan Lun also believed that Li Chengliang had brought this upon himself. He had long warned Li Chengliang to restrain his Jurchen subordinates, but Li Chengliang had ignored him. This lesson was not necessarily a bad thing, as it was better than making a big mistake in the future.

Tan Lun wasn't worried. Although Li Chengliang had been dismissed, his personal guards were still there.

Wang Gao, the leader of the Jianzhou Jurchen rebellion, was still at large, which provided an opportunity for Li Chengliang to return to Liaoyang to atone for his crimes.

(End of this chapter)